Dharna Learnings.

* If banner contains phone number, then if photo in press or on TV, contains phone, lots of persons call up.

* Press release should be available 1 day in advance. 2 persons at least should review this.

 Press release is very Important. Press guys do not have time to write , also it is safer for them to copy from your press release.

 Giving some photo in press release also helps press to copy paste.

* Press release in Hindi or local language is very Important .  Do not need to type. Just write by hand and do photocopies. Even rough half hindi conversion is better then no hindi press release.

* Press guys write stories early evenings, so require press release, photoes etc. by afternoon or early evening .

* If press release can mention that some high profile person is coming to Seminar , TV Guys become really interested. Like Retired Judge, Old Age NGO president, Retired, Police DCP of women cell etc.

* It is important that 1 person is fixed for the task of taking contact details of press, like cards, phone numbers or email. This information database is very Important in seminars next time. At the same time people should not spam the press with junk emails. So we collect all press cards, emails etc. at 1 place, scan them , and send to 3 or 4 core persons , they can distribute and call the press guys for attending the next day . Or better still can call them the same day after seminar, asking do they need photos by email early evening , or something else.

* 1 person volenteer for uploading photoes to web in early evening sometimes help to give photoes to press.

* Videp recordings if uploaded to web later, help to keep good memories, and other city teams enjoy watching these. If you want send the CD to Delhi Sandeep.bhartia@gmail.com , his hired person can upload to youtube.

*  Sufficient photocopies of press release should be available, some attending persons or casual visitors also like to take copies.

* One extra hired person for odd jobs help.

* 1 car volenteer to drop ladies to convenient metro station or auto point helps.

 * If some printed materials from previous seminar or other cities printed materials is also available keep that too, gives impression that they are long time players .

* Book by ghrs.in was writen for 2 aims, for press guys and for 498a victims help . So give free book to press guys, let other buy the books( so that victims give importance and read the book ) .

* You can think about getting speakers from other cities on phone, this gives variety. NRI conference was done on phone, and very good.

 * One can reuse playcards, printed materials etc. from SIF files folder , as made by different cities.

Give press release and other details of reports 4 days in advance. Try to interact with press guys so that their questions can be answered to help them write article in advance .

Activists should read the material and discuss about the intent of Dharna in Advance , so that they can explain it better to the press.

Tell press that photos will be posted the same day at this link.
 Give them video DVDs of previous protests in Advance, so that they can use as background if required.

Tell press that Video DVD will be available around 11 PM the same day.

 Video : Use profesional video guy or take sufficient Cassetes for your video, take video stand.
Audio :  REMEMBER, In case of any problems you can use the cellphone vioce or video recording.

Arrange for a driver who can drive my 2nd car to drop persons to the nearest metro station, tell people this in advance.

Give an impression that you have plenty of victims willing to speak to media, you can say that due to time limitations we have scheduled interviews for only these victims.

Jantart mantart always 5,6 media guys are present . One can get 10 easily , if tent is big and number of persons are large, press release idea is good for press etc.

Vidoe conference is better done at Proper hall like India international Center.

Call press guys personally from India also.